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‘Probe allegations of stranded citizens in Russia’, Ugandan embassy asked
“Another allegation is that Ugandans who wish to return home are frustrated, discouraged or stopped and reported to the Russian authorities by officials at our embassy in Moscow,” Bagiire wrote.
In the letter, Bagiire (Pictured) stated that he had received reports that some of Ugandans who wished to return home were reported to the authorities in Russia by the staff of the Ugandan Embassy.
By: Charles Etukuri, Journalist @New Vision
KAMPALA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent secretary, Vincent Bagiire, has directed the Ugandan Embassy in Russia to investigate reports that scores of Ugandans were trafficked to the country and deployed to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, where they are stuck.
In a letter dated July 23, Bagiire directed the head of Uganda’s Mission in Moscow, Moses Kizige, to investigate the reports and furnish him with details in one week.
“I met a group of relatives of Ugandans who were trafficked to Russia by a one Dimitry. They claim that there are two ladies, one called Esther and another one called Anna, who were involved in the recruitment,” he wrote.
The permanent secretary, therefore, requested Ambassador Kizige to investigate the reports and facilitate the repatriation of any of the Ugandans who may wish to return home.
“This is to request you to investigate these allegations and provide a report within seven days from the date of receipt of this letter. In the meantime, do facilitate all the Ugandans that wish to return home,” Bagiire wrote.
Bagiire’s letter followed a meeting he held with relatives of the people who are stuck on the Russia-Ukraine battlefield after being trafficked there.
In the letter, Bagiire stated that he had received reports that some of Ugandans who wished to return home were reported to the authorities in Russia by the staff of the Ugandan Embassy.
“Another allegation is that Ugandans who wish to return home are frustrated, discouraged or stopped and reported to the Russian authorities by officials at our embassy in Moscow,” Bagiire wrote.
When contacted, Ambassador Kizige acknowledged the presence of Ugandans, but said neither the embassy nor the Government was involved in their recruitment.
“It is true they are there. The Government of Uganda, and as such the Embassy, was not involved in their recruitment. They have service contracts and were paid money for signing up. The contracts are still running,” Kizige told New Vision.
Innocent Kato, one of the people who met the permanent secretary, said his twin brother identified as Kenneth Kakuru was trafficked to Russia through South Sudan and has not been heard from since February.
In the letter, Bagiire stated that he had received reports that some of Ugandans who wished to return home were reported to the authorities in Russia by the staff of the Ugandan Embassy.
“Another allegation is that Ugandans who wish to return home are frustrated, discouraged or stopped and reported to the Russian authorities by officials at our embassy in Moscow,” Bagiire wrote.
When contacted, Ambassador Kizige acknowledged the presence of Ugandans, but said neither the embassy nor the Government was involved in their recruitment.
“It is true they are there. The Government of Uganda, and as such the Embassy, was not involved in their recruitment. They have service contracts and were paid money for signing up. The contracts are still running,” Kizige told New Vision.
Innocent Kato, one of the people who met the permanent secretary, said his twin brother identified as Kenneth Kakuru was trafficked to Russia through South Sudan and has not been heard from since February.
“We are not sure if he is dead or alive because we have not heard from him since February. His group was smuggled to Moscow through Juba and Istanbul airports. The person who recruited them said they were to be deployed in Moscow as security guards and drivers. They were also shocked to learn that they had been recruited to the battlefield,” Kato said.
According to Kato, the trafficker avoided Entebbe Airport because Ugandan security had known about the recruitment and blocked the first batch that was to be flown out in September.
“They avoided Entebbe because security blocked the first group and arrested the person who was trafficking them. The trafficker was later released under unclear circumstances. After release, he flew out and coordinated the recruitments through airports of neighbouring countries to fly out.
He asked them to be secretive about it, and they complained because of the $6,000 (sh21m) monthly salary that he had promised them. My brother flew out with 30 people, mostly those who had served in Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan,” he said.
Kato said on arrival in Moscow, the recruits were given contracts in Russian to sign.
Kato asked Uganda to emulate the governments of Kenya and South Africa, which had reached out to the Russian government to have their citizens repatriated.
South Africans, Kenyans rescued
Following an outcry in Kenya early this year, the country’s foreign affairs minister travelled to Russia in March and held talks with the defence minister Sergei Lavrov to repatriate its citizens who were stuck at the frontline.
During a meeting with Lavrov on March 16, Mudavadi said both sides had agreed that Kenyans would no longer be recruited to fight in the war.
"They will no longer be eligible to be enlisted," he said.
However, Lavrov insisted that all foreign fighters had joined voluntarily ''in full compliance with Russian law''.
A Kenyan intelligence report in February had warned that more than 1,000 citizens had been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Earlier in February, South Africa held talks with Russia and secured the release of 17 of its citizens who had been lured into fighting in Ukraine.
In a statement released by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office, he thanked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for helping to secure the return of 17 South Africans allegedly tricked into joining the Russia-Ukraine war.
In November, the South African government said it had received distress calls from the group of men who had joined mercenary forces in the conflict.
The men believed they were going to Russia for bodyguard training but instead ended up on the front line of the war in Ukraine.
According to Kato, the trafficker avoided Entebbe Airport because Ugandan security had known about the recruitment and blocked the first batch that was to be flown out in September.
“They avoided Entebbe because security blocked the first group and arrested the person who was trafficking them. The trafficker was later released under unclear circumstances. After release, he flew out and coordinated the recruitments through airports of neighbouring countries to fly out.
He asked them to be secretive about it, and they complained because of the $6,000 (sh21m) monthly salary that he had promised them. My brother flew out with 30 people, mostly those who had served in Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan,” he said.
Kato said on arrival in Moscow, the recruits were given contracts in Russian to sign.
Kato asked Uganda to emulate the governments of Kenya and South Africa, which had reached out to the Russian government to have their citizens repatriated.
South Africans, Kenyans rescued
Following an outcry in Kenya early this year, the country’s foreign affairs minister travelled to Russia in March and held talks with the defence minister Sergei Lavrov to repatriate its citizens who were stuck at the frontline.
During a meeting with Lavrov on March 16, Mudavadi said both sides had agreed that Kenyans would no longer be recruited to fight in the war.
"They will no longer be eligible to be enlisted," he said.
However, Lavrov insisted that all foreign fighters had joined voluntarily ''in full compliance with Russian law''.
A Kenyan intelligence report in February had warned that more than 1,000 citizens had been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Earlier in February, South Africa held talks with Russia and secured the release of 17 of its citizens who had been lured into fighting in Ukraine.
In a statement released by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office, he thanked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for helping to secure the return of 17 South Africans allegedly tricked into joining the Russia-Ukraine war.
In November, the South African government said it had received distress calls from the group of men who had joined mercenary forces in the conflict.
The men believed they were going to Russia for bodyguard training but instead ended up on the front line of the war in Ukraine.